Random Question/Rant
 

Flying today in BF lgw-iah-phx, I couldn't help but notice while walking through immigration I see that the US Immigration officers are armed. Why?? Anyone they encounter is coming off a security cleared flight. I guess I don't know why they are packing heat.

Rant # 2. The walking escalators. Why do people stand like it's a ride? Are we that lazy in this country? I'm not talking about elders or others who have difficulty walking. I'm talking about folks who have zero problems walking but are too lazy to do so.

Perhaps the people who aren't walking have a blister or a bad knee or are exhausted from travelling for ages. All you have to say is excuse me and they will let you by.

"ANOTHER F***ING STEP WITH THAT PAPAYA AND I'LL BLOW YOUR F***ING HEAD OFF!"

A dramatic example, but I think it makes sense for the guards to be armed because even though they may have cleared security somewhere, security isn't the same everywhere. It may be a lot easier to sneak a kilo of cocaine from Nicaragua than it is from say... New York City. And if you are a professional drug mule, your living depends on getting whatever it is to the "consumer" and the money is good, it would take a lot to stop you from running out of the airport at full speed, i.e. a gun.

And yes, a lot of people are lazy, but it's pretty great when you've been hauling a heavy carry-on for 1/4 of a mile.

As long as they stand to the side, why would you possibly care? Do you know what someone with a heart condition looks like? How about someone who twisted their ankle getting off the plane?

I mean, really, why is everyone so judgmental? As long as they're not in your way, what possible business is it of yours whether they want to ride or walk?

Well the problem is #1, in the USA, most folks don't understand "stand right, walk left"; and #2 I see able teens, adults, and sorry to say, overweight folks just standing there like it's a bloody ride. Give me a break with the heart condition/ankle rhetoric...please...:rolleyes:

Probably to impress people or as extra deterrent (whether or not the armaments would actually be helpful in the situation). I've seen heavily armed people in other countries' airports as well (e.g. Canada, Hong Kong).

And that's a legitimate gripe -- it's rude to block the walkway. However, that wasn't the rant.

Yeah, so? Again, what business is it of yours if they're able teens or overweight folks?

Sure. Just explain why it's any of your business why someone decides to stand rather than walk, irrespective of whether they have a bad heart or are just plain lazy. I always walk, primarily because I hate terminals and want to get to the gate/club room/exit as quickly as possible. However, it wouldn't occur to me mentally condemn people I pass on the way because I'm walking and they're not.

I mean, seriously -- what business is it of yours? Why would you even care, as long as they're not in your way? I really don't get why it's an issue for you at all.

1) Why *wouldn't* the customs folks have guns? It's not about matching the arms of your adversary, it's a tool to do a job. Just because there is little to no chance of someone pulling a gun on them does not mean they may have to resort to deadly force at some point - requiring a gun. If some guy is found to have a bag of coke, and he whips out a knife and starts threatening to stab anyone who stands in his way, he needs to be shot. No shooting in the leg stuff either - right for the center of mass - killshot. That's how it works.

2) It is annoying *if* the people are in your way. If they are not, who cares? I've had days where I was so tired I just couldn't take another step -the moving conveyor is a helpful tool to make these times easier. I'm an able bodied man but I'd hope nobody would pass judgement on me for this. After all, I could be tired - maybe I have a bad ankle you can't see (I do actually), maybe my shoes are slipping and giving me a blister, maybe, maybe..... maybe anything. Who cares? If they are blocking the conveyor, they are rude ignoramus' and should be politely told to move it, but if they are on their own side - so what?

This is a joke right?:rolleyes:

I hope so...but perhaps not.:(

It is agency policy; most require sworn personnel to be armed at all times while on duty.

Chime me in with another vote for:

No problem if you're not walking on the moving walkways/escalators...IF you're observing the proper "stand right/walk left" protocol. Further, slightly annoying, but still no "real" problem, if I have to say "Excuse me, passing thru" to those violating said protocol, but who still promptly move aside (and often apologize).

However, PROBLEM, and will earn you a hearty and stern, "Anyone ever teach you Stand Right/Walk Left?" from me, if you dare to display a lack of disability and ANY sort of "attitude" when I politely excuse myself while trying to pass you by. And yes, it does happen more often than you would think.

Additional add-on to this discussion: PROBLEM with groups of people/family walking 3 or more abreast through an airport or other concourse, preventing faster walkers from passing by without having to somehow break through them. More than a few members of these groups have felt the wrath of a shoulder check from me (a collision I pretty much always win at 6'3" and just over 300 lbs) as I've rushed through them to make a tight flight connection in MEM's relatively narrow corridors. Clueless.

What's wrong with letting the escalator take you up or down? Maybe people have a lot of luggage they'd rather take a break from carrying. For those who don't want to walk up or down the escalator, they should stay to the right (at least in the US) and let those of us who want to walk have the ability to do so on the left.

By the way, what is the difference between an escalator and a "walking" escalator. They both move you up and down, right? ;)

Your right, it's not my business and perhaps I have too much time on my mind :D I should have revised the rant to reflect why it usually bothers me--when it is blocked by folks in the left side.

I fear you maybe right. I might point out a few things though.

1. I would hope that an immigration officer would not discharge his gun in a crowded airport even if he was hunting a drug mule or a wayward papaya.

2. Since when is it the job of outbound security at any airport to screen for drugs, they seem to have a hard enough time checking that our water isn't explosive to we really need to give them something else to make sure we are not carrying?

3. As for jerry_pharm's example of Nicaragua, wouldn't it be more likely that it would come across the pourous land border between US and Mexico?

I don't care if immigration/customs people carry guns. H*ll, in Alaska you don't even have to have a permit to carry a concealed firearm anymore. As long as people behave responsibly with them (and I would assume that most sworn law enforcement officers would behave responsibly) guns are great to have around.

I'd rather have armed folks around and not need their assistance than be in a bad situation with no one having a gun handy!

While I disagree with your statement about guns being great to have around, I would point out that airports have law enforcement officers who do carry guns, the police. Is there really a need for everyone to be armed?

An escalator or moving walkway offers two possible benefits; saving time or saving exertion. I completely agree with stand right and walk left but sometimes the escalator or walkway is too narrow to allow this. I almost never walk up an escalator because I have a roller bag with my flight bag hooked on the back of it. There is no way I'm going to stop, separate the two bags and carry the 50 lbs. up an escalator! Unfortunately the width of my flight bag effectively blocks the left side of the escalator so all I can say is, "too bad". I don't mean that in a rude way but it's as if you got to an elevator in a big rush to go up but I had already pushed the button to go down, "too bad".

I hope for your sake that you are never injured or disabled.

I totally agree with those who get really annoyed when people block the walkway or escalator, or walk three or more abreast through the concourse. I think the Metro system in D.C. (where I lived until six months ago) may have finally broken down and installed "Stand Right, Walk Left" stickers on the escalators -- they resisted for a long time because "we don't want people to walk on the escalators at all because they might trip and fall and die," but in prime tourist season, I think the risk is much greater that a commuter will snap and throw some hapless visitor down to his death.

Ahem. Anyway, as a fast walker, even if I'm not technically in a hurry, I hate being subject to someone else's pace. It really frustrates me. I should probably get help for that...

1 - why not have immigration armed with handguns? US airport security is actually less armed than european countries, like UK,FR,DE,NL,IT

2 - thats like asking why do people stand on escalators.. or walk really slowly..

I ask this with no pun intended whatsoever: Is that how it is all over the world or just in the US?

Stand left, Walk right. Applies to a majority of Asian countries, Japan included. ;) Had a hard time getting used to that one!

Sanosuke!

It's all in the timing of things for me. Sometimes I've got a connection with only minutes to spare and it seems like the whole world can't move fast enough. During times like these I generally push my way past people blocking the moving walkways or anywhere else without saying a word.

When my connection time is short but there's no hurry I often say "excuse me" or "behind you" or something like that. Usually gets the job done no problems.

Only once have I had to put anyone in thier place, some heavy set women standing in the middle of the walkway resting her weight on the hand rails. Said, "excuse me" a couple of times she glared at me but didn't move. Then said, "excuse me, do you understand english? Can you read that sign? Or do you just think you own this walkway?" Just happened to be good timing with the walk left stand right signage she just snorted and moved over.

Other times I've had so much time between flights I try to take as long as I can getting from point A to point B just to kill the time, no need to hurry up and wait. As a result I've recieved a few bumps from passangers who could benefit from a little of my extra time. Though I'm always aware of others on the moving walkways and escilators and stand to the side if I can.

I think the best thing to realize is that not everyone is in a hurry and to remember that just because you're not in a hurry doesn't mean no one else is in a hurry or vise versa.:cool:

You might be surprised, but a lot of people are actually afraid of the moving walkways, escalators, moving stairs, etc. For some reason I see lots of 'em whenever I land in Atlanta; there's a set of escalators that you have to take up to the terminal proper, once you've gotten off the little gate-train, and there's often someone who's gotten in the queue then had to stop a minute before actually getting on the escalator. You can watch them almost counting the steps as they go by and working up the nerve to step on.

I seriously doubt that any of these folks will be walking on the moving steps!

If you're not used to people-moving-technology and don't have a lot of experience getting around airports (they're crowded and can be confusing), I'd imagine the moving walkways are the perfect place to catch your breath and gather your thoughts.

;) As long as you stand to the right!

So i don't feel like walking. You can move if you like,and don't call me lazy:mad:

just use the magic words: "excuse me"

Nah, he's talking about the ones that are horizontal, not escaltors.

Someone who's used to using the escalators doesn't realize anymore that it actually takes some adaptation to get on and off. Did you ever step onto an escalator that is not moving? Every time I do I slightly fall forward when stepping on and backward when stepping off, even though I tell myself that I should handle the escalator like an ordinary stairway... Anyone else with the same problem?

HTB.

In the West, we can choose whether to stand on the escalator, run up the down escalator (something I've always wanted to do) etc. As long as people don't block the escalator then I think it's fair enough, people can do what they like and it's not up to us to tell them to do anything other than that. We are already told to do so much in life, why can't we stand and think about how we are going to get from the airport to our hotel, etc. on the escaltor. The thing that annoys me are kids who'se parents let them sit on the baggage carousel and run around the arrivals area so you can't get to the front of the crowd to get your bag, without knocking over/walking on the kid however tempting that might be...I don't do.

Ah, I see.
What are those things actually called anyway? Are they travellators??
Even so, if people want to stand and let the machine do its job, then it's none of our business to tell them to do otherwise.

Sometimes, if I have the time, I like to stand and look around, especially in SFO where the moving walkway takes you past interesting exhibitions.

Sometimes, if I am in a hurry, I like to walk, fast. Then it is not the folks who stand to the right who annoy me, but the people who walk, very slowly, to the left. :td: You just can't get past them. :(

Sorry to disagree, enviroian, but when I am in a hurry, I would be thrilled if the pokey walkers would just "Stand to the Right".

travellators or people movers are what they are known as in the industry